Thousands of people will take to the streets of Dublin today to highlight their disgust at the latest abortion controversy.

Protests are also being held in London after details were released of how a rape victim was refused an abortion under new laws and force fed to keep her and her child alive.

Choice Ireland spokeswoman Stephanie Long said the demonstrations will take place at the Spire and outside the Irish embassy,

She added: “This case has shown that the law is not fit for purpose.

“We are calling on people to take to the streets to show the Government that denying women basic human rights is unacceptable.

“Choice Ireland pointed to potential difficulties like this when the legislation was being drafted. This will not be the last case where a woman seeking an abortion to save her life makes the headlines while this legislation remains on the statute books.

“We are calling for a referendum to repeal the eighth amendment so that women can avail of the health care and medical treatments that they need.”

The case centres on a young woman who was raped and sought an abortion because she was suicidal.

After seeing three consultants, they recommended a C-section be carried out.

The woman did not agree with the decision to force-feed her to have the baby and went on hunger strike.

But the HSE went to the High Court to stop her starving herself. The baby was later delivered by Caesarean section and is still recovering in hospital.

In an interview with The Irish Times the mother said she wanted to die rather than bear her rapist’s child.

She told the paper: “The scar [from the C-section] will never go away. It will always be a reminder.

“I still suffer. I don’t know if what has happened to me is normal. I just wanted justice to be done. For me, this is injustice.”

The HSE has said it will carry out an internal review of the care provided to the woman.

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday clinical guidelines for doctors on how to operate the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act are not ready – nearly eight months after the new laws came into force.

The Department of Health said it is expected to be finalised and ready for release soon.